The Giant Killer: The incredible true story a 4' 9" 97lb man who achieved the impossible by becoming a Green Beret Captain and war hero.
Written by David Yuzuk
Narrated by Steven Wenger
5/5
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About this audiobook
At 4' 9" 97lbs Richard Flaherty is believed to be the smallest man to ever serve in the U.S. military. Needing a congressional waiver just to join the Army he achieved the impossible by becoming a Green Beret Captain and a Vietnam vet war hero earning the Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars and 2 Purple Hearts. - 101st Airborne & 3rd Special Forces Group.
Author and police officer David Yuzuk befriended Richard J. Flaherty in 1999, when Flaherty was living homeless on the streets of Miami. Flaherty warned Yuzuk that asking too many questions about his secretive life could be bad for Yuzuk’s career and dangerous to his own health. Sure enough, eight hours after Yuzuk made a call to confirm Flaherty’s identity, Flaherty was killed in a hit-and-run and that sets the stage for a bewildering plummet down a rabbit hole of CIA conspiracies, and shadow governments. It would be the last investigation in Yuzuk's twenty-year police career, stretching from the bloody jungles of Vietnam to the dangerous streets of Iraq and Venezuela.
In riveting rifle, rucksack style author, David Yuzuk takes you deep into the jungles of Vietnam to walk in the combat boots of America’s smallest soldier, Richard Flaherty. Starting with the bloody Tet Offensive, Flaherty and his units are engaged in harrowing non-stop action. Written with extensive access to surviving members of the 101st Airborne and 3rd Special Forces Group, on-the-ground eye-witness, family members and friends, as well as archival, and declassified military records, Yuzuk has created a gripping narrative of Richard Flaherty’s inspiring life and career. Yuzuk also releases never published information of a covert operation Flaherty worked in order to locate and recover a recently declassified stolen weapon of mass destruction (Project Green Light).
#1 New York Times best seller - Author Doug Stanton "Giant Killers are among us-- author David Yuzuk walked with one and returned with this tale.”
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Reviews for The Giant Killer
65 ratings7 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title to be an excellent review of the life and death of a true American hero. It is a true story of a man overcoming challenges and living a rewarding life, but eventually ending up on the streets. The book is described as a great listening experience, with a well-written narrative that evokes both laughter and tears. Readers express gratitude and admiration for military service members and feel more emotional than expected. The only downside mentioned is the desire for more information about Richard.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This was a book I stumbled across and decided to check out out. I'm so glad I did!!! What an incredible story of a military hero, left forgotten, living on the streets, until someone decided he was worth their time. That friendship took 15 years to develop and this is the story of a true military hero. And I say story because it is written just like that...a series of conversations. Nothing is sugar-coated, no political ranting, just the words of men struggling to come home from a war they didn't want and a country that didn't want them back.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wow! What a story, what an incredible man. Great listening.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What a great Book very well written badly is let me laughing and crying Did not want to see it End
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A fascinating read. I feel more emotional than I expected. I just wish we knew more about Richard!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I loved this book so much. My gratitude and admiration of military service members grew to an all new height. Thank you for sharing!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent review of the life and death of a true American hero.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5True story man over coming having a rewarding life but ends up living on the streets